1st Set: Great presence by the guys. The sound is full but it doesn’t have the “X” factor yet. All the songs are good and very listenable but it’s hard to find the soul. Pig is standing out with BIG BOSS MAN and HARD 2 HANDLE but neither song goes anywhere musically. You can hear the crowd and they are really urging the band on, they even go crazy over Mama Tried. At the beginning of CASEY JONES, someone tells Bobby to keep rockin out. That must have inspired him because this is the best version this year. They take the jam to where you always want it to go. This is the definitive version. False start on SUGAR MAGNOLIA which you can hear Jerry take the blame for. All during this song, you can hear the crowd going crazy. It’s one of those great times where the crowd is actually helping the band and is part of the show. Sugar Mag is very good and a good set ender tonight.

2nd Set: GOOD LOVIN steals the show. They are on fire with this song this spring and it shows. I haven’t heard a bad one. I had this show on tape a long time ago and for some reason thought it was great. It is good but there is no soul. They aren’t feeling it tonight but they are still giving us our money’s worth. In Good Lovin, we get the Brooklyn Bridge rap which is pretty cool so this is worth the listen. After that, they kind of meander around with different songs which are good, but the “IT” isn’t there. Every song is worth the listen but there are much better shows out there than this one. The LOVELIGHT at the end is really good. It sounds a lot like the Lovelights from the late ’80s when Bobby brought it back and it wasn’t as good. This show is technically good but it doesn’t get my butt boogieing.

Awesome quartet sound, with that essential fifth frontman - Pigpen. I think this show is a prime example of just how a band should handle it's wilder personalities - let them shine intermittently and brightly as the show's ever-popular secret weapon, not as the tail that wags the dog (Morrison, et al).

The vocals are mixed a bit high here, but the band sounds lovely (listen to Bobby in particular throughout the night). I just find this stripped-down, minimalist sound irresistable when the band is dialed in. And, please, no whining about the setlist....when they're this good, and give Pig that kind of airtime, who needs another Other One?

Wow, Bucknell show and then this show at Princeton.
Super good music! Epic 1st set here. by the time they hit LOSER, Mama Tried- I am feeling like the crowd is just blown away. i know I am just listening to this!
Somewhere in the reviews a comment was made about this being some of the best music the Dead ever made and I whole heartily agree. CASEY JONES!!!
In this era your longer tunes again become some of the PIG centered ones as the Dead don't spend as much time exploring the 'Dark Star', the entire 'That's it for the Other One' or even 'Playing in the Band' which is still running easily under 5 minutes at this show.
The jam out of drums back into GOOD Lovin' is extremely nice. and plenty of comments already about Pig's mojo.
Bobby in really good form on his vocals.
The songs that they introduced at Portchester are in bloom by April of 1971.
Sultry King Bee with pig on Harp!
Jerry has it going on with both his vocals and guitar work. "Try to read between the lines"
Sing Me Back Home in the final ballad spot is deep.

My recollection of the show includes an opening set by NRPS with Jerry on the pedal steel. Then a delay due to bomb threat. At that point the audience proceeded to fold up and remove all of the folding chairs on the gym floor. Other great memory was some heckler yelling out _ "Play something we know" Deadhead Lee Stanley replied vehemently _ "Know something they play" As they say, priceless

I'm not that big a Pigpen fan, but the Good Loving on here is as good as it gets. He goes on with his hilarious rap while the band churns away behind him with their own unique brand of psychedelic blues. It's so good you don't want it to stop, and that's why goes on for around 1/2 hour.

Diggin the Pig....schew!
What a match maker...

PIG!!!

Okay boys and girls don't forget the moral of this story. I think you can hear the exact moment in Jerry's guitar solo at 13:20 when Pig catches his dose of the clap.

This soundboard mix sounds good to me with Jerry's guitar tone captured very nicely. Don't be a scrutinizer.

Got any Dope? Too funny. Pigpen was in a class of his own for sure, and was the only "true" frontman for the Dead. This Good Lovin' is a must listen for all fans. 5 stars for this version 4.3 for the full show. It's April 71 maybe the best month for the Dead ever.

God bless you Pigpen. I know you and Jerry and all those passed into the great majority are in Heaven jamming beyond anything we can ever conceive. You still bring so much joy and love into the world, as you did when this and all the other shows were recorded. Thank you, and thank God we have these precious records. I hope to join you one day!

"'Cause she got box back knitties, great big noble thighs, workin' undercover with a boar hog eye"

You ain't so bad, you just talk that's a just about all

16 years old and grew up 4 miles from the show in beautiful Hopewell Township.I walked and hitchhiked to the show to the distress of mom+dad,and loved every minute.This show may not have the technical perfection of later years,but the playing was right on.A great perspective on great things to come.Pigpen sounded so clear.Looking back after many other shows and living the dream in California,hearing this show brings me back to a simple beautiful time in life.Great Recording!

the ultimate Pigpen show. Incredible Good Lovin, with the famous "Brooklyn Bridge" rap.

Also great Hard to Handle,King Bee, and Lovelight. Just a great example of how Pig could elevate an otherwise "standard" show to new heights. The true center of the primal dead era.

My first tape way back when .... loved Pig ever since

Jump on yo pony and riiiide !

If you're down with Pig. Get This Now.

Love the "Brooklin' Bridge" my all time fav Pig show.

Jerry was hassled before the show for smoking a number outside by Princeton officals. Jerry threw the number on the ground and told "we'll never play this f'n place again". He was true to his word.

Of course, the Good Lovin' is the highlight of this show (over 27 minutes long). Fantastic jamming in this number. The Lovelight is also excellent, as is Sugar Magnolia. Otherwise, this show is so ordinary you could fall asleep in the rest of it and not miss anything. Plus, I don't like the SBD of this. The instruments and vocals have great presence, but this recording is too dry and lifeless to do the show justice. The singing in particular is way too high up in the mix as there is more-than-usual amount of flubs in the harmonies.

usually reviewing these shows for sound quality mostly, i have to make a comment on the performance of king bee {sound is impeccable}.....this is very nice harp work from pig with Jerry chiding him on and filling all the gaps that pig leaves in his phrasing-----sweet.......check out the smokestack lightining on 12 07 71 for more of the same vibe

If you like blues and love pigpen then this show's for you. Pigpen's rap during lovelight is awesome and watch for the classic '71 Loser.

this show is really good i love that long rap during good lovein alot really good stuff here

Just pointing out another big one.
If I rememeber correctly Bob Weir himself pointed out that this show is a great example of pigpen doing his thing.
The Good Lovin'/drums/good lovin' is Sick....and Very long too i might add.
Add the long improvs during lovelight and you've got a classic. Check it out.